Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code MC

Dependency status Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; note - scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Government type NA

National capital Macau

Administrative divisions 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)

National holiday Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20 December 1999

Legal system Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President of Portugal Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members
elections: none; governor general appointed by the president of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau Democratic Center, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; Macau Independent Group, leader NA

Political pressure groups and leaders wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

International organization participation CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description the flag of Portugal is used

NOTE: The information regarding Macau on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Macau Government 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Macau Government 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.